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  Validation of a print verification systemUSPTO Application #: 20060238780Title: Validation of a print verification system Abstract: Methods, systems, and media are disclosed for testing the accuracy of a print verification system (PVS) in test mode, wherein a PVS is often used to validate the accuracy of printed output. One embodiment includes receiving, by an application, an output from a print verification system associated with the application, wherein the output comprises one or more defects. The embodiment also includes receiving, by the application, a list, such as a copy, of seeded defects for the output, wherein the list is uploaded to and saved by the application. In addition, the embodiment includes matching, by the application, the one or more seeded defects in the list that correspond to the one or more defects in the output. Finally, the embodiment includes displaying, by the application, results of the testing after the matching. (end of abstract)
Agent: Ibm Coporation (rtp) C/o Schubert Osterrieder & Nickelson PLLC - Austin, TX, US Inventor: Carl Michael Dennison USPTO Applicaton #: 20060238780 - Class: 358001900 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060238780. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF INVENTION [0001] The invention generally relates to print verification systems, and, in particular, to methods, systems, and media for testing print verification systems for accuracy. BACKGROUND [0002] Printer output, such as text on paper, normally occurs when a computer sends a digital file to a printing device, such as a printer, copier, facsimile, or the like. This digital file often contains information associated with and necessary for the printing device to print the output. Examples of this information include the number of copies, the type of paper to be used, the orientation for printing the output, and so forth. In order for the printing device to glean this information, and, therefore, correctly print the output, a processor associated with the printing device reads the received digital file. [0003] Sometimes, however, after the printing device receives the digital file, the printing device fails to print the output in exact accordance with the digital file's instructions. As a result, printing errors occur in the output. For example, in the black-and-white context, the printing device may print black on the output where white should be, that is, "unintended black," and/or the printing device may not print black on the output where black should be, that is, "missing black." Additional examples of undesirable defects on the output include spots, lines, streaks, bleeding, haloing, tenting, trail-edge deletion and starvation. Regardless of the type of defect on the output, businesses either selling printing devices or heavily relying on the accuracy of printing devices may desire to validate the output accuracy of such printing devices. [0004] Printing verification systems (PVSs), such as that offered by IBM, exist to validate the accuracy of printing devices. In short, a PVS is a printing inspection device which can inspect the whole surface of a printed matter in detail at high speed. More specifically, a typical PVS includes an associated high speed printer that prints about 300 sheets/minute, and the output from this printer is on a continuous form sent through an associated duplex scanner, i.e., two cameras, wherein each one scans an image of the opposing sides of the output. PVS then compares the scanned images to the printed images of the output, and determines whether the scanned images are the same as the printed images of the output. If the printing device under test by PVS is working properly, then the scanned images are the same as the printed images of the output. However, if differences exist, such as "unintended black" or "missing black" is found by the PVS analyzer module of PVS, then PVS will report that the printing device is producing defects in the output. Such defects will be reported on a display, such as on a graphical user interface (GUI), associated with PVS. [0005] Despite the existence of PVS's to test for defects in a printing device's output, problems remain in determining whether printing devices are indeed working properly. If a PVS is malfunctioning, and, thereby, fails to report defects for a printing device when defects indeed exist, then the PVS is not serving its intended function. Reliance, therefore, by the industry on a malfunctioning PVS is entirely possible, which can lead to catastrophic and unpredictable consequences for businesses that heavily rely on the accuracy of its printing devices that they believe, albeit wrongly, are working properly. Unfortunately, no known measures, much less rapid, automated measures, exist for determining whether a PVS is analyzing a printing device's output properly. [0006] A need, therefore, exists for automated methods, systems, and media for testing the accuracy of a PVS. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] Embodiments of the invention generally provide methods, systems, and media for testing the accuracy of a print verification system. In one embodiment, the method for testing the accuracy of a print verification system generally includes receiving, by an application, an output from a print verification system associated with the application, wherein the output comprises one or more defects. The method also includes receiving, by the application, a list, such as a copy, of seeded defects for the output, wherein the list is uploaded to and saved by the application. In addition, the method includes matching, by the application, the one or more seeded defects in the list that correspond to the one or more defects in the output. Finally, the method includes displaying, by the application, results of the testing after the matching. [0008] In another embodiment, the invention provides a system for testing the accuracy of a print verification system. The system generally includes a receiver module for receiving, by an application, an output from a print verification system associated with the application, wherein the output comprises one or more defects. The system also includes the receiver module receiving, by the application, a list, such as a copy, of seeded defects for the output, wherein the list is uploaded to and saved by the application. In addition, the system includes a matching module for matching, by the application, the one or more seeded defects in the list that correspond to the one or more defects in the output. Finally, the system includes a display module for displaying, by the application, results of the testing after execution by the matching. Module. [0009] In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a machine-accessible medium containing instructions for testing the accuracy of a print verification system, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations. The instructions generally include operations for receiving, by an application, an output from a print verification system associated with the application, wherein the output comprises one or more defects. The instructions further include operations for receiving, by the application, a list, such as a copy, of seeded defects for the output, wherein the list is uploaded to and saved by the application. Further still, the instructions include operations for matching, by the application, the one or more seeded defects in the list that correspond to the one or more defects in the output. Finally, the instructions further include operations for includes displaying, by the application, results of the testing after performing the instructions for matching. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] So that the manner in which the above recited features, advantages and objects of the present invention are attained and can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. [0011] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. [0012] FIG. 1 depicts an example embodiment of an overview of a print verification system (PVS) and application used in accordance with the disclosed invention. [0013] FIG. 2 depicts an example embodiment of a system for testing the accuracy of a PVS in accordance with the disclosed invention. [0014] FIG. 3 depicts an example embodiment of a flowchart for testing the accuracy of a PVS in accordance with the disclosed invention DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS [0015] The following is a detailed description of example embodiments of the invention depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are examples and are in such detail as to clearly communicate the invention. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. The detailed descriptions below are designed to make such embodiments obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art. [0016] Generally speaking, systems, methods, and media for testing the accuracy of a print verification system (PVS) are contemplated. Embodiments include a PVS, which, generally, is understood to include a printing device, such as a printer, for receiving a digital file from a computer system either associated or integrated into the PVS for operation in either a test or a verify mode. The printing device processes the digital file by reading the packets of information in the digital file, which, for example, contains a first page and a second page, wherein the second page is the same as the first page except for the inclusion of seeded defects known to someone associated with the testing of the PVS. The printer prints the interpreted digital file as printer output, such as text on paper, and an associated scanner scans the printer output as an image, such as in bitmap format. With reference to the first and second pages just discussed, logic associated with the PVS analyzer of the PVS compares the first page of the printer output to a scanned version of the second page. In addition and optionally, the logic also has the PVS analyzer compare the second page of the printer output to a scanned version of the first page. Afterwards, the PVS produces the comparison's output on an associated display, such as a computer screen showing a graphical user interface for logging or listing the test results by the PVS. If the PVS is working properly, the comparison's output, or simply, "PVS output," should report any detected differences, i.e., seeded defects such as missing or unintended black ink, that truly exist between a comparison of the first and second pages. [0017] This disclosure, however, relates to systems, methods, and media for testing the accuracy of a PVS in its test mode. That is, this disclosure validates that the PVS, in test mode, is testing properly by an application associated or integrated into the PVS. The application, also referred to as the PVS tester application in this disclosure, generally analyzes the PVS output from the PVS to determine whether the PVS in test mode is working properly. More specifically, the applications analyzes the PVS output to determine whether the PVS output reported all of the seeded defects that the PVS should have found by testing the first and second pages. If the application reports PVS found all of the defects that PVS was expected to find, then the PVS is working properly. Otherwise, PVS may not be working properly, and repair of the PVS may be necessary. [0018] Turning now to FIG. 1, a general overview of a system 100 for testing the accuracy of a print verification system (PVS) 105, in accordance with the invention, is disclosed. The system 100 includes a printing device 110, likely used by testers of a PVS 105, wherein the printing device 110 receives a digital file 107 which, for example, contains a first page and a second page, wherein the second page is the same as the first page except for the inclusion of seeded defects known to someone associated with the testing of the PVS 105. The printing device 110, such as a printer, facsimile, and so forth, prints the interpreted digital file 107 as printer output 127, such as text on paper. In addition, an associated scanner 120 scans the printer output 127 as a scanned image 126, such as in bitmap format. The scanner 120, itself, may be a duplex scanner having two cameras, wherein one is on top and one is on the bottom, for producing a scanned image 126 of the printer output 127. Here, a duplex scanner may simultaneously scan both sides of a two-sided printer output 127, and, thereby, produce a scanned image of the first page and the second page in one pass pf the scanner 120. [0019] The PVS analyzer 125, through associated logic, compares a scanned image 126 of the first page to the printer output 127 of the second page. In addition and optionally, the PVS analyzer 125 also compares a scanned image 126 of the second page to the printer output 127 of the first page. Ideally, analysis of the first and optional second comparisons should yield results, which are termed "PVS output" in this disclosure, that show differences, i.e., seeded defects, gleaned by comparing the first and second pages. Notably, the first and optional comparisons of the first and second pages should produce the same, but reflective, defects. For example, say the PVS output 128 for the PVS analyzer's 125 comparison and analysis of a scanned image 126 of the first page to the printer output 127 of the second page is only unintended black seeded defects. Then, comparison and analysis of a scanned image 126 of the second page to the printer output 127 of the first page should be missing black seeded defects. By this example, it follows that the PVS output 128 reports the same defects, but are reflective relative to the page's side, i.e., first or second. Continue reading... Full patent description for Validation of a print verification system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Validation of a print verification system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. 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